Arsenal’s hopes of ending their 20-year Premier League title drought were dealt a crushing blow on Saturday as Mikel Arteta’s side squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa. The stalemate at the Emirates, combined with Liverpool’s late 3-1 win over Brentford, saw the Gunners fall six points behind the leaders, prompting Arteta to lament his squad’s lack of depth compared to their Merseyside rivals.
Stretched Arsenal Exposed by Villa Comeback
Arsenal looked to be cruising after strikes from Martinelli and Saka gave them a 2-0 halftime lead. But Unai Emery’s resurgent Villa stormed back after the break, with goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins exposing the Gunners’ thin roster. Injuries to key players like William Saliba left Arteta unable to stem the tide with his limited substitution options.
When you look at the bench you probably say, we are very, very short.
– Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s lack of squad depth
Núñez Brace Highlights Liverpool’s Strength in Depth
In stark contrast to Arsenal’s predicament, Liverpool were able to call upon the likes of Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo from the bench to turn a 1-1 battle with Brentford into a comfortable 3-1 win. Núñez’s late double underscored the quality Jürgen Klopp has in reserve – something Arteta can only dream of at present.
Arsenal’s January Transfer Woes
With the January transfer window closing in and the Gunners reeling from injuries to Saliba, Ramsdale, and Smith Rowe, calls are growing for Edu and the Arsenal board to back Arteta with reinforcements. But with top targets like Youri Tielemans & Jhon Durán proving elusive, the Spaniard may have to make do with a skeleton crew for the title run-in.
- Arsenal failed with late Camavinga approach
- Club €20m short of Shakhtar Mudryk valuation
Champions League Race Heats Up
Saturday’s results also blew the race for Champions League spots wide open. Liverpool’s win, coupled with Chelsea’s defeat to West Ham and Man United’s draw with Spurs, moved them back into 2nd place, while Newcastle and Villa are now right on the heels of the stuttering Blues and Red Devils.
| Club | Points | Games Played |
| 1. Arsenal | 50 | 21 |
| 2. Liverpool | 44 | 20 |
| 3. Newcastle Utd | 39 | 21 |
| 4. Manchester Utd | 39 | 21 |
| 5. Aston Villa | 31 | 21 |
Pivotal Period for Gunners’ Season
The next few weeks could define Arsenal’s campaign. With the January window closing and a series of tough fixtures ahead, starting with a clash against rejuvenated Man United, Arteta has little margin for error. Fail to patch up his threadbare squad and their long wait for league glory may go on. But pull off a few smart deals and the Gunners could yet reignite their title charge and hold off the chasing pack.
As Liverpool’s own recruitment has shown, solving a side’s depth issues can be the difference between being the hunters and the hunted at the business end of the season. Arsenal’s hierarchy would do well to take note as they aim to end two decades of Premier League frustration and seal a return to Europe’s top table.
